Gambill Gets U.S. Even With Switzerland

Patrick McEnroe’s debut as U.S. Davis Cup captain was half successful.

The visiting Americans split their first two matches against Switzerland on Friday, as Jan-Michael Gambill won and Todd Martin lost at Basel.

Roger Federer defeated Martin, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1, then Gambill knocked off Michel Kratochvil, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

In today’s doubles, Gambill and Justin Gimelstob are scheduled to face Federer and Lorenzo Manta, although the captains can make last-minute changes. In Sunday’s reverse singles, Martin is to play Kratochvil and Gambill is to face Federer. McEnroe hinted he might substitute Andy Roddick, the world’s top junior last year.

“It’s a lot of fun, that’s No. 1,” McEnroe said of his debut. “It’s great to see someone like Jan-Michael go out there with a lot of expectations and live up to them.”

In improving his Davis Cup match record to 2-3, Gambill served 10 aces to four for Kratochvil and had only two double faults.

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Spain’s first reign as Davis Cup champion might not last long.

Two months after defeating 27-time champion Australia for the title, Spain trailed the Netherlands, 2-0, after opening singles matches in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, one of the heroes in Barcelona in December, lost to Raemon Sluiter, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, and Carlos Moya was defeated, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, by Sjeng Schalken on the indoor carpet.

In other World Group first-round matches, Australia led Ecuador, 2-0; Germany and Romania were tied, 1-1, as were Slovakia and Russia; France led Belgium, 2-0; and Brazil was ahead of Morocco, 2-0.